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Land famine threatens Delhi's colonial heritage of Lutyens architecture Land famine threatens Delhi's colonial heritage of Lutyens architecture
(5 months later)
It was built as the capital of the jewel in the imperial crown and has survived monsoons, droughts, riots, communist politicians and acid rain.It was built as the capital of the jewel in the imperial crown and has survived monsoons, droughts, riots, communist politicians and acid rain.
But now some of the stunning architecture of "Lutyens' Delhi", nearly 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of government buildings, parks and homes named after the British architect who masterminded their design, faces a new threat: a scheme by local authorities to relax planning restrictions to allow high-rise constructions.But now some of the stunning architecture of "Lutyens' Delhi", nearly 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of government buildings, parks and homes named after the British architect who masterminded their design, faces a new threat: a scheme by local authorities to relax planning restrictions to allow high-rise constructions.
The change would affect the zone of elegant 1920s and 1930s bungalows built for the few thousand civil servants who governed hundreds of millions of Indians under the British Raj.The change would affect the zone of elegant 1920s and 1930s bungalows built for the few thousand civil servants who governed hundreds of millions of Indians under the British Raj.
Lutyens' Delhi has its origins in the decision by the British to move the capital of India from Calcutta (today's Kolkata), the steamy port city in the east, to Delhi, the historic city of the Mughal emperors.Lutyens' Delhi has its origins in the decision by the British to move the capital of India from Calcutta (today's Kolkata), the steamy port city in the east, to Delhi, the historic city of the Mughal emperors.
The decision was announced by King George V at the vast Delhi Durbar, a parade and celebration of British power, in 1911. At the time, India's rulers had no inkling that they would be forced to leave India only 36 years later, exhausted by the second world war and unable to quell demands for independence.The decision was announced by King George V at the vast Delhi Durbar, a parade and celebration of British power, in 1911. At the time, India's rulers had no inkling that they would be forced to leave India only 36 years later, exhausted by the second world war and unable to quell demands for independence.
Along with new government buildings, a team of British and Indian architects working under the direction of Edwin Landseer Lutyens designed bungalows for British administrators and their families.Along with new government buildings, a team of British and Indian architects working under the direction of Edwin Landseer Lutyens designed bungalows for British administrators and their families.
Many of the 1,000 or so bungalows, all in matching neo-classical style, were built with several acres of garden around them. In 1988 and again in 2003 a protected zone was expanded. It now comprises a huge swath of some of the most valuable land in India – and in the world.Many of the 1,000 or so bungalows, all in matching neo-classical style, were built with several acres of garden around them. In 1988 and again in 2003 a protected zone was expanded. It now comprises a huge swath of some of the most valuable land in India – and in the world.
It is this area that is now under attack, conservationists claim.It is this area that is now under attack, conservationists claim.
"Give them an inch and they will take a mile. This zone is less than 2% of the city. If they want to build they can build elsewhere," said Krishnan Menon, a conservation architect and urban planner who heads the Delhi chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. However, others believe preserving Lutyens' Delhi in its pristine state would be wrong in a seething city where millions sleep in crowded slums."Give them an inch and they will take a mile. This zone is less than 2% of the city. If they want to build they can build elsewhere," said Krishnan Menon, a conservation architect and urban planner who heads the Delhi chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. However, others believe preserving Lutyens' Delhi in its pristine state would be wrong in a seething city where millions sleep in crowded slums.
Sohail Hashmi, a writer and historian who leads heritage walks in Delhi, said that Lutyens' Delhi was created by imperialists to give an impression of power in a colony. "The only bit of land left in this city is there, in the centre, where government officials are sitting in houses surrounded by three or four acres. If I were running this city I would keep one street to show what Lutyens' Delhi looked like and the rest you could take over and build homes," Hashmi said.Sohail Hashmi, a writer and historian who leads heritage walks in Delhi, said that Lutyens' Delhi was created by imperialists to give an impression of power in a colony. "The only bit of land left in this city is there, in the centre, where government officials are sitting in houses surrounded by three or four acres. If I were running this city I would keep one street to show what Lutyens' Delhi looked like and the rest you could take over and build homes," Hashmi said.
Others fear the influence of Delhi's voracious property developers. On the rare occasions where properties in the protected central zone change hands – less than a tenth are privately owned – they sell for huge sums. Prices in central Delhi are higher than those in prime areas of London or New York. One telecoms magnate recently paid £20m for a mildewed modernist one-storey home. Other homes nearby are on the market for between £30m and £60m.Others fear the influence of Delhi's voracious property developers. On the rare occasions where properties in the protected central zone change hands – less than a tenth are privately owned – they sell for huge sums. Prices in central Delhi are higher than those in prime areas of London or New York. One telecoms magnate recently paid £20m for a mildewed modernist one-storey home. Other homes nearby are on the market for between £30m and £60m.
Some government properties are worth extraordinary amounts of money. A plot housing 100 mid-ranking army officers in accommodation almost overlooking Rashtrapati Bhawan, the vast edifice first built for the viceroy of India and now used by the president as an official residence, has an estimated value of £600m.Some government properties are worth extraordinary amounts of money. A plot housing 100 mid-ranking army officers in accommodation almost overlooking Rashtrapati Bhawan, the vast edifice first built for the viceroy of India and now used by the president as an official residence, has an estimated value of £600m.
A plan to build a national army museum in the centre of the zone is also opposed by conservationists.A plan to build a national army museum in the centre of the zone is also opposed by conservationists.
There have already been repeated controversies as residents of the bungalows – mainly members of parliament – have made unauthorised alterations. In one famous case in 2004, a politician added a giant glass pyramid. More recently, a member of the Indian parliament's upper house built a Hindu temple within his home. "There is a huge mismatch. One of the nice things about the bungalows is they have a very quiet, rather modest voice. You can't just use it for a senior minister. It just doesn't work. But the bungalow has become a symbol of power so they all want one," Charles Correa, one of India's best-known architects, said.There have already been repeated controversies as residents of the bungalows – mainly members of parliament – have made unauthorised alterations. In one famous case in 2004, a politician added a giant glass pyramid. More recently, a member of the Indian parliament's upper house built a Hindu temple within his home. "There is a huge mismatch. One of the nice things about the bungalows is they have a very quiet, rather modest voice. You can't just use it for a senior minister. It just doesn't work. But the bungalow has become a symbol of power so they all want one," Charles Correa, one of India's best-known architects, said.
Correa said that although it was very difficult to modernise individual bungalows without damaging the aesthetic effect across the whole zone, it would be possible to reconcile development with preservation if the process were properly managed. "You must be ruthless about what you can save and what you can't. But that means you can't allow bureaucrats and politicians to decide that the edges can be nibbled away. That's just ridiculous," he said.Correa said that although it was very difficult to modernise individual bungalows without damaging the aesthetic effect across the whole zone, it would be possible to reconcile development with preservation if the process were properly managed. "You must be ruthless about what you can save and what you can't. But that means you can't allow bureaucrats and politicians to decide that the edges can be nibbled away. That's just ridiculous," he said.
The conservationists hope that Unesco, the United Nation's cultural organisation, will give Lutyens' Delhi coveted world heritage site status under the category of inhabited historic towns. This would make radical change almost impossible. A decision is possible later this year, they say. "It's our values against those of the developers and the moneybags. It's a tough battle," said Menon.The conservationists hope that Unesco, the United Nation's cultural organisation, will give Lutyens' Delhi coveted world heritage site status under the category of inhabited historic towns. This would make radical change almost impossible. A decision is possible later this year, they say. "It's our values against those of the developers and the moneybags. It's a tough battle," said Menon.
One ally may be the bureaucrats themselves. Previous plans to redevelop the central area of the city have simply disappeared, victims of the notorious sloth and complexity of Indian bureaucracy.One ally may be the bureaucrats themselves. Previous plans to redevelop the central area of the city have simply disappeared, victims of the notorious sloth and complexity of Indian bureaucracy.
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